IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy Third Edition National Level Cricket Tournament for the Blind – 2020-21

The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) in association with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, inaugurated the 3rd Edition of IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy Cricket Tournament for the Blind today on February 7th at the Gigabyte Conference Hall, 4th Floor, Shantiniketan Homes,
No 2, 2nd Cross, Hosur Road, Bommasandra, Bangalore at 6 PM.

The event has drawn cricket enthusiasts, staff of the Non-Profit Trust, Heads of Corporates, Government Dignitaries, and members of the blind cricket team. The tournament will begin on Feb 8th and close on Feb 16th, 2021.290 Players from 24 States have come together to participate in the tournament and will be playing
67 T20 matches with the teams lined-up in four pools for the league matches followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and the finals of the championship match.

The event was graced by Guests of honor, Honorable Shri B. Shivanna, MLA, Anekal, Blore Urban,
Shri B. Siddaramu, Former Karnataka State Cricketer and State Team Manager, Dr Anand Lakshman, Founder CEO, Address Health Solutions India Pvt Ltd., Vinod Jakati from Coca-Cola and Dr Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, Founder Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust and President Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)

The inauguration of the cricket tournament is organized in memory and honor of Late SP Nagesh, Founder of Samarthanam Trust, who was a friend, mentor and an avid cricketer himself, who motivated every blind cricketer passionate about the sport to go beyond barriers. Mr Nagesh, a visionary, pioneered the structuring of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India and Blind Cricket across the globe and envisioned the empowerment of the visually impaired through cricket, our country’s favorite sport.

Honorable MLA B. Shivanna from Anekal Constituency, Bangalore Constituency speaking at the Inaugural function of IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy Cricket Tournament for the Blind 3rd Edition said ” It gives me immense joy to be in an event where the visually impaired cricketers are all geared up to play in the tournament from tomorrow. Players from all States of India are gathered under one umbrella CABI with high spirits in Bangalore and especially in Anekal. My appreciations to each one of you”

Says Dr Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, President Cricket Association for the Blind in India Founder Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled “It takes relentless hard work, days of undivided attention and a lot of perseverance chasing the dream to play Cricket especially after a break of one Year because of Covid19 . What separates our visually impaired players from the rest is our extremely talented youngsters who have been waiting for this single day to happen, because of their attitude towards the game. Our Cricketers refuse to compromise on their dreams and I am looking forward to the Matches with moments of high drama”

Samarthanam is an award-winning NGO working together to lift and empower every individual with impairments from weaker backgrounds through developmental initiatives focusing on educational, social, economic, cultural and technological aspects. Samarthanam aims to empower 100,000 disabled lives by the year 2030 and envisions an inclusive society free from discrimination where persons with disabilities become agents of change in the society living with dignity and respect.

The Cricket Association for the Blind in India, a sports initiative of Samarthanam, envisions establishing a strong cricketing ecosystem exclusively for the visually impaired in the country. Cricket for the Blind is a magnificent display of how the visually impaired can triumph over challenges in life and overcome it through cricket. By promoting the game, CABI believes that the visually challenged have the right to be a part of the sport and look at life positively, gain confidence and strive to be winners in every sphere of life.